Report: Glass vetoed Randa trade
Deal would have sent third baseman to Cubs
By Chris Shaeffer / MLB.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A proposed trade between the Royals and Chicago Cubs involving third baseman Joe Randa was nixed when team president Dan Glass vetoed it.

Glass told the Kansas City Star the deal involved acquiring minor-league prospects from the Cubs in exchange for the veteran third baseman. The deal came up at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn. in December.

Glass told the newspaper that he wasn't comfortable with the deal.

"I did veto a trade," he said. "I felt like we weren't getting enough in return for a player of Joe's abilities and quality.

"We're not here on a fire sale. We're here to win as many games as we can, and Joe's a big part of our offense and a big part of our team."

Randa will earn $4.5 million with the Royals this season. However, if he were traded, Randa's salary increases to $5.5 million with his new club.

Glass said the Royals would not pay any part of Randa's salary to help facilitate a deal.

The Royals club president also confirmed that the Cubs were the other team involved in the deal. Royals owner David Glass supported his son's decision and said that Milwaukee and the New York Mets expressed interest in the 33-year-old Randa.

Although Randa apparently was aware of the pending deal at the time, he wouldn't comment on the details. Neither would Royals general manager Allard Baird, who is currently in Puerto Rico.

In his eight seasons in the Majors, Randa has spent six of those with the Royals and he makes Kansas City his permanent home. The popular player, nicknamed "The Joker" for his almost constant smile, has a .289 batting average over the last four seasons. He hit .282 with 80 RBIs for the Royals last season.

At the time of the proposed trade, the Royals didn't have anyone to step in and play third base. That changed last week with the signing of utility infielder Desi Relaford, who can play second, shortstop and third base. .

Right now the Cubs third baseman is Mark Bellhorn, who batted .258 with 27 home runs, while playing mostly at second base last season. Bellhorn also struck out 144 times in 445 at-bats.

As far as Randa's future in Kansas City is concerned, Dan and David Glass both agree that he will probably be in the lineup on Opening Day.

"I think so," David Glass said. "We could move Joe somewhere, but unless you can get value for him, it would be pointless to do it."